Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Behavioral Genetic Characterization of Hunting in Domestic Dogs, Canis Familiaris

Chowdhury, Budhaditya

Abstract Details

2011, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Biological Sciences.
Humans have exerted strong selection pressures for the behavioral attributes which make dogs prized hunting companions, viz., superior sensory capabilities, social cognition, and tenacious pursuit of prey. With behavioral traits maintained in stable breed lines, and a unique genome organization, dogs are ideally suited for a genetic dissection of complex behavioral phenotypes. Despite studies employing substantial sampling regimes the promise of the canine model has yet to be realized, largely because of the dearth of robust quantitative behavioral metrics. Here we show that refined dissection of a complex behavior into component parts is instrumental in identifying genomic signatures associated with these elements. Using 11 spatially explicit measures we demonstrate the existence of four principal dispositions describing Search Eagerness, Linear Running, Handler Reliance, and Zigzagged Searching. A Single Nucleodide Polymorphic marker - based association study reveals that Search Eagerness significantly associates with genomic regions on chromosomes 1 and 27 (Chromosome wide significance, p [100,000 permutations] < 0.05). Adjacent are sites for brain specific Demethylase- (MBD2) and GABA transporter genes (BGT1, GAT2, GAT3) coding for transcriptional repressor proteins and regulating levels of extracellular neurotransmitters respectively. We anticipate that the wider application of such objective quantitative frameworks will improve the phenotypic characterization that remains the bottleneck in neurobehavioral genetic research.
Robert Huber (Committee Chair)
Moira van Staaden (Committee Member)
Paul Morris (Committee Member)
Verner Bingman (Committee Member)
73 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Chowdhury, B. (2011). Behavioral Genetic Characterization of Hunting in Domestic Dogs, Canis Familiaris [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1320084128

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Chowdhury, Budhaditya. Behavioral Genetic Characterization of Hunting in Domestic Dogs, Canis Familiaris. 2011. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1320084128.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Chowdhury, Budhaditya. "Behavioral Genetic Characterization of Hunting in Domestic Dogs, Canis Familiaris." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1320084128

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)